Synopsis:Pretending to be something they’re not, afraid to trust anyone completely, destined to tear each other apart– this is the story of unlikely love and unbearable consequences.

Sig Locke is a cop. He was raised by a cop and all his brothers are cops. He bleeds blue, believes in right and wrong, and sees in black and white, never in shades of gray.

But that was before he met Tommi.

Tommi, with her long legs and bright green eyes, she captured Sig’s interest from the moment he saw her. Even after he discovered who she was–the girlfriend of a drug dealer, the beauty behind a criminal–he still found her utterly irresistible. What Sig doesn’t know, however, is that she has a secret even a cop can’t uncover.

Tommi Lawrence hasn’t had an easy life, and it only got more complicated the day she met Sig. She learned long ago that she can’t trust anyone. Her gut tells her that Sig is no exception, her heart tells her that he is. But that was before she found out his real identity.

Can love be forged in a fire of lies? Or will the truth destroy them both?

Excerpt:Her lips are still curved when she turns her attention back to me. Something about the moment hits me like a punch to the gut. I think for a second that I could stand here and stare at her, just enjoy her smile and her happiness for hours. Days, maybe. But I can’t. We can’t. So, instead, I brush a clump of mud from the end of her nose. “Have fun?”

“I did. Thank you. This was so good for him.”

“And you.”

“And me,” she concedes.

“You can be the real you around me anytime. I won’t tell a soul.”

“So you prefer this?”

“Oh, hell yeah! I don’t need glamorous. Or proper.”

“I’m not proper.”

“You forget that I heard your…expressiveness that day on the side of the road. And it didn’t consist of ‘darn’ or ‘golly gee’. But I haven’t heard anything like that come out of your mouth since then.”

“Ladies aren’t supposed to talk that way, according to Lance.”

“I don’t want a lady. I want a woman. One who knows her own mind. One who wears what she’s comfortable in, one who says what she’s thinking.” I take a step closer. I can’t help myself. Her scent draws me in. Even covered in mud, she smells like sexy sunshine. “I want the woman who kisses like she’s on fire and makes me feel like I’m the only one who can put her out.”

“Sig,” she begins.

I break in to cut her off. I know her objections. And I know how much I don’t want to hear them. “I’m just being honest. I’m not even touching you.”

Her eyes are glued to mine, a damn near irresistible gravity pulling us together. “It’s not like you can anyway. I mean, we’re in public. With my little brother. What could you possibly touch?”

I reach down and smear my hand in mud. With her eyes locked on mine, I reach between us and flatten my palm on her chest, right over her heart. “This. I’d touch this.”

About the author:

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies. She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Happy Release Day to an AMAZING author and friend - Jennifer DeLucy! Her Light Series is being released today in a Box Set. This is one of those trilogy's that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! If you haven't checked out these books, now's your chance to read them back to back!

Synopsis: In the world of Seers, souls are connected over generations and countless spirits haunt the earth. Lillian Hunt isn’t prepared for life as a Sentient being, but she knows her choices are few. She can either embrace her purpose and learn to protect herself in a strange new reality or live at its mercy unprotected. As present, future and past unwind, so do the fates of everyone around her, branching farther than she could ever have imagined.

The Light Series will give you chills, reignite your fear of the dark and your faith in the power of love. Just be warned...once you've entered the world of Seers, you'll never be the same.

Jennifer DeLucy is an author of paranormal fiction, most notably The Light Series Trilogy, a freelance editor and a musician who believes in combining talents to create unique and inspiring work. Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Jennifer moved to the Midwest in her early twenties, honing her passions and publishing her first two novels before moving to Seattle, Washington in 2012. She continues to pursue new and exciting avenues in both the writing and music fields.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis:
Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. There are the justifications she gives to everyone else—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. And then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.

Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He can’t pinpoint exactly what’s missing until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. But he’s the guy that women love and leave—not the one who makes them think of forever.

Though she’s terrified of opening up, Lauren’s ready to take that chance. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.

EXCERPT:

Mom was asleep, so I checked my email. I had the usual spam, plus notes from all my former roomies, which made me happy. I missed all of them, even Max, though things were unspeakably awkward between us at the end. I opened Nadia’s first:

LB! You know I miss you like crazy, right? Courtney’s in your bed right now, and she has completely alphabetized my books. I’m pretty sure there will be a lending library program implemented the next time I get home from work. So how’s Nebraska? Did you find a job yet? Have you started applying to any schools? I have like ten more questions but you’ll get grumpy if I dump them on you all at once. Hug and kiss my family for me, okay? Write back soon or I’m sending my brother to track you down.

She didn’t mention the hot single dad she’d broken up with right before I left. Mr. Hot Ginger had dumped Nadia for her own good, which would drive her quietly crazy. I’d felt horrible about the timing, but there was little I could do about it. I hadn’t gotten to know him well before I left, but Ty seemed like a good guy. He was only a few years older than us, but already had a four-year-old. That was the crux of the conflict.

Writing back, I didn’t quite nail the tone, talking about Rob too much and inventing interesting anecdotes because there was so little going on. I could’ve mentioned Krista, but Nadia had never been as close to her, and there was some tension by the time she moved. Mostly I didn’t want Nadia to worry; things would be fine once I got a job and had less time to fret about whether I’d made the right decision.

I opened Angus’s email next:

Hey, you. Got your check. It appears not to be rubber, but I said you didn’t have to pay me back. I hate you for leaving. Come back right now. I’ll wait. This is me, waiting. It’s been at least five minutes. You’re shattering my faith in humanity, Lauren. Take responsibility for it! Not sure what you’ve heard from Nadia, but she’s such a hot mess. I can’t believe you abandoned us. All the light has left my life. All of it! Okay, enough drama. I’m working on getting over Josh. Classes suck but I will survive. (You’re singing it now, aren’t you?)

“Damn you, Angus Starr. You know me too well.” I got up on my bed with a hairbrush and sang two verses before reading on.

In all seriousness, there is a Lauren-sized hole in my life. Please don’t lose touch. Write soon. Love and hugs, Angus.

It was simpler writing back to Angus; our friendship was sweet and uncomplicated. Briefly I considered deleting Max’s email without opening it, but that seemed like an asshole move. In the end, I read it, two lines only:

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

The annual Culling ceremony is a day every coming-of-age novice looks forward to within the Primeval Coven. It’s the start to being initiated into the Night Watchmen, humankind’s protectors, and it’s the long-awaited day when novices discover if they’re a Hunter or a Witch.

But this day is not a happy one for Faye Middleton. Not when she’s known her whole life that she’s a Defect and is about to face banishment in front of her fellow novices. She’s forced to attend the Culling with little hope for her future, but what she discovers about herself is far worse than she could’ve imagined. And far more dangerous.

Thrown into training and separated from her friends, Faye must learn to adjust. She struggles to find her place within the Coven, and with Jaxen Gramm, the darkly handsome and extremely unnerving man assigned to watch and protect her. Emotions run high, and when she discovers a deadly secret about him, her struggles deepen. As corruption within the Coven begins to unravel, Faye pieces together her role in saving the future of her people, and within Jaxen’s life…but will the truth save her, or be her undoing?

Review: 4 Stars - Everlasting is the first title in author Candace Knoebel’s Night Watchmen series. It’s about witches and hunters and the unique relationship between the two. With teen characters that live within a covens walls and train to be either a witch or a hunter there’s bound to be trouble and trouble finds main character Faye at every turn.

I read this book earlier this year and when I realized that I hadn’t written a review I thought signing up for this tour was the perfect chance. I enjoyed the series, the characters and Knoebels take on witches and hunters as it was all a nice change from the norm when it comes to supernatural or paranormal stories.

Faye as a character is feisty, speaks her mind and is often funny. She’s dealing with the fact that she’s a Defect and will be forced into banishment without given a chance. She’s stressed and worried about never seeing her family or friends again so she’s trying to prepare herself for what’s to come.

In the blink of an eye all that Faye knows or believes is pulled out from under her like the proverbial rug and changes her life. She’s not sure if the changes are for the better or worse yet as you read her story you see things and people who are out to make her theirs.

One of the things that I loved about Faye is that she’s not perfect. She has a lot to learn and it’s this that makes her such a likeable character. She wants all the normal things a teen girl does she just has a bit of a different life within the coven so some of those wants are a bit bigger than even her.

And then we have Jaxon… her protector who’s harboring his own secret, which is a doozy. These two have so much to overcome and while reading I often wondered if they were going to get any breaks! Jaxon as a character… yeah, I wish I could have spent some more time with him. Thankfully this is a series, so my wish will be granted! YAY for more Jaxon.

This title is filled with dangerous twists and turns for Faye and in turn Jaxon. There’s a lot going on but it’s never overwhelming. There’s also awkward moments for some of the characters that make them endearing. And romance with consequences that you can’t help but feel horrible about one minute and cheer for the next.

Those who love a YA supernatural/paranormal title with bite shouldn’t pass this one by! And the great thing is that the sequel Evernight is being released on October 31st, 2014, I know I can’t wait! I hope other readers will enjoy this title as I have. Happy Reading.

About the Author:

Candace Knoebel is the award-winning author of Born in Flames-book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. And an outlet for all the voices residing in her head.

Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy. She now works on the Night Watchmen Series, while guzzling Red Bulls and pretending to be a ninja on Heelys.

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the US, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Clash By: Nicole Williams is..... US cover!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Synopsis: Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation’s faction leader did the same. Tobias’s transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened “Four,” he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future—and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling DIVERGENT series, told from the per-spective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here—THE TRANSFER, THE INITIATE, THE SON, and THE TRAITOR—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the DIVERGENT trilogy.

About the author:

Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, ALLEGIANT, will come out on October 22, 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)

Let the Wars Begin:
Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa I LOVE the look of BOTH of these covers. They each fit right along side the three books in this trilogy and WOW, do they look good against the other books! I love how bright these two covers are within how dark they are.... so choosing a favorite... this is tough. If I had the UK books on my shelves right this minute I might give that one my vote, however I love the Ferris Wheel scene in the books AND the movie so my vote goes to the... US cover!!! Tell us what you like about these covers below and don't forget to cast your vote now.

Michelle This is a tough choice for me this week. I love the Ferris wheel on the US cover and how it relates to not only this series, but also the movie too. However I do like the UK version a tiny bit more, and I think that it mainly because it matches the covers I have for the UK paperbacks before they went all dark. I love the effect of the rain, and the city in the background, the cloudy sky with the sparks.

Synopsis: When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self.

Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s always treated with caution—her heart.

Review: 4 Stars - Adrenaline Crush by author Laurie Boyle Crompton is more than just a story about a female high school student who just so happens to be a thrill seeker. It has a great message that readers of all ages will appreciate.

When I first started reading this title I could tell it was not only going to be a great story but I also could tell it was going to be a fast read. Once I was finished I was right on both counts. The story itself is told from the main character Dyna who lives in a small mountain town. She loves doing all activities in the outdoors from mountain bike riding, to climbing and anything that’ll get her adrenaline pumping. Her whole family is the same way so she’s grown up doing these things her whole life.

It’s not until she injured while taking a risk to gain the attention of a boy one summer that her life changes. She’s forced to slow down, to let heal her ankle or it just might have to be fused together and she’ll never do the things she loves again. Her mom is kind of a hippy, her dad is a tattoo artist and her older brother a free spirit who doesn’t know what he should be doing with his life other than skydiving. Each of them comes with their own thoughts on Dyna’s healing process. It’s not until her mom finds an alternative healing center that she’s forced to attend that she finds a greater meaning to her life and what she believes.

Dyna as a character is a somewhat typical teen. She has all of the typical teen emotions and feelings yet when she meets the fellow people in her group at the healing center, including a War veteran she is given a lot of other things to think about when it comes to her life, healing and the world around her.

There’s an important message that’s written in the story for both Dyna and the reader that there’s no way to miss. There’s romance and choices and family. And in the end it’s the flow of the book that pulls everything together to give readers a great YA title.

The additional characters in Dyna’s life also help her to understand where she was, is and should be. They help her to figure out her life and what she wants other than what’s she’s being given, or taking the easy way. These secondary characters were a pleasure to read and I wish there was more time to spend with Pierce, however with such a short book there’s only so much time within the pages to get to know who each of the characters are.

I would recommend this title to anyone who loves a great contemporary read with YA characters. There is talk and a scene with drugs. There’s talk of drinking and sex but nothing more than kissing so it’s a bit on the cleaner side for those who might like that info. If you want a sweet story with a great message that’s a quick read, look no further this book fits the bill. Enjoy!

Synopsis: Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Review: 4 Stars - Made for You by author Melissa Marr is a twisted and mysterious story about obsession, fitting in, small towns and murder.

This book was a great read from beginning to end and being written in multiple points of view gives you the story from victim, stalker and friends. With mystery being such a huge part of the plot, having the story told from such a verity of characters gives readers a chance to look for clues and see almost from fresh eyes as main character Eva Tilling tries to figure out who’s sending these gruesome messages and what they have planned next before it’s too late.

Speaking of Eva, she’s the main character of the book and is the target of a killer’s obsession. She comes from a small town where everyone knows everyone and money, titles and last names mean more than anything else, which she’s not sure she agrees with. She’s a leader with her group of friends and when she gets hit by a car and left for dead her life and those around her are all in danger… they just don’t know it until the killer strikes again.

One of the twists to the story… and DON’T worry, I’m not giving anything away that’s not already told in the synopsis – when Eva wakes up she’s confused by strange flashes she gets, confusing pieces of time when someone touches her that show her how the person is going to die. This was a cleaver way for Marr to give Eva and her old friend Nate a way to try to figure out the pieces of a puzzle of what’s going to happen next and to who before the killer can attack again.

The story as a whole was very well written and I had no idea what was about to happen next. I guessed more than once who the killer was and ended up wrong, guessed again and yep… wrong a second time. I tried another guess and nope, still couldn’t figure it out! I didn’t think we’d learn who the killer was until almost the very end and was kind of shocked and honestly a bit disappointed when the obsessed killer was revealed so much earlier in the story. At least for me it felt early on in the story.

This was one of the things I was kind of disappointed in. I felt somewhat deflated when I found out who it was because there was still so much left to read. Yet, in the end it did work out well with how twisted the last quarter of the book was. I’ll tell you Marr sure does write a creepy character with so many layers to how crazy they were, I was shocked even more with the turn of each page.

In the end it was a great book, a perfect release for this time of the year, a perfect book for those looking for something a bit dark and somewhat twisted. It’s a young adult title so it’s not too graphic. There are some mentions of sex, these are high school aged kids so that’s pretty much a given. This was a nice change of pace for Marr and I can’t wait to read what she writes next. I hope future readers will find themselves lost in this book just as I was. Happy reading of this creepy story!

About the Author:

Hmm, I’m never good at the bio bit. I used to teach college & bartend, now I write novels. I love to meet new people, to hear their stories, to walk through new streets and see new vistas. I enjoy art in all its guises–graffiti, surrealist paintings, classic sculptures, tattoos, interesting buildings, Renoir, photography . . . Art & nature, they feed my soul & thus my muse.

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Conner Burke never expected Sofie Callahan to come back.

Where she’s been for the last two and half years is a
mystery, and so is the reason she left in the first place. Now, though, she’s
back in their hometown of Shelton Bay, South Carolina, at the same time
Conner’s band Dirty B is home on a tour break.

Sofie Callahan has spent the months since her father’s death
avoiding anything to do with her home town. But with her brother in
Afghanistan, she has no choice but to return and sort out her father’s house,
even if it means facing the boy she fell in love with and revealing the reason
she left.

Conner has questions, and when his broken heart and her
guilty one collide, Sofie has to start answering them. Their present is rocky,
their future unknown. Only one thing is certain:

Sofie’s daughter will change everything.

EXCERPT

That kid that could be mine.

I get up and let the empty bottle drop to the floor. The woods are eerily quiet, as if it can sense my anger. As if it knows the bitterness that lingers in my veins, as if it knows the burn of not knowing anything.

Like the woods, I’m left in the dark. Completely.

Branches and twigs crunch under my feet as I increase my pace to a gentle jog. And again, to a slow run. Then to a sprint.

The need to know increases with every footstep, as evenly paced as the ticking of the clock. It doesn’t matter that I’ve probably drunk too much beer to be here or that we’ve only been back for a matter of days.

I can’t be in this shithole full of memories without knowing. I can’t move on until I know. I can’t forgive her for a single fucking thing until I know—and even then, maybe I won’t be able to.

Maybe she’s unforgivable.

Instead of knocking on the back door like I did yesterday, I round the side of the house to the front door. The front room light glows softly through the curtains, but the rest of the house is dark.

My chest heaves with the exertion of my run here and I grab the doorframe to balance myself. I’m definitely too fucking drunk for this conversation, but what the hell.

I bang on the door, once, twice, again and again and again. “Sofie! Open the fuckin’ door!”

“Shut up!” she hisses, yanking it open. “The hell’re you doing here?”

I smirk, leaning against the wall. “Shouldn’t I be askin’ you that, princess?”

“Are you drunk?” Her voice rises a little at the end, and her eyes widen.

Those eyes. Fuck, those baby blues that have always undone me.

“Drunk? No. If I was drunk I’d be sitting at home like a miserable bastard and not here facing the cause of my misery.”

“You’re being an asshole. I don’t have to listen to this.”

She pushes on the door, but I wedge my foot in front of it. I let go of the wall and grab the edge of the door.

“Actually, you do.”

She can’t overpower me, and she knows it, because she lets up and the door swings open. “Why are you here, Conner?”

“You have a kid.”

She smacks her lips together. “Yep.”

“When? When did you have her?”

Sofie takes a deep breath in and presses her hands to her stomach. They’re shaking, even as she links her fingers to hide it. I can see that fucking tremble.

She whispers something but I’m too pre-occupied by her hands to hear it.

“What?”

“August last year,” she repeats, still a whisper.

August. Last year. My stomach clenches as I meet her eyes. “When? When in fuckin’ August, Sofie?”

“August fifteenth.” Her voice hitches halfway through the ‘fifteenth.’

Almost seven months to the day she walked out on me and the rest of Shelton Bay.

Adrenaline hums through my body, and I stare at her. At the tears building in her eyes, the quiver of her lips, the bob of her throat as she swallows harshly.

It’s no different from the burn in my chest, the twisting of my stomach.

“Is she mine?”

She shudders and a tear drips from her eye.

“Sofie. Is. She. Mine?!”

About the Author:

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult
author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful
little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she
fancies - usually wine - and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with
her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top
Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a
shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a
whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the
dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.

Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince:

"A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!"
~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.

Exclusive Excerpt

Jackson clutched the stone wall of his chamber and gasped for air. What had just happened? He had returned to Cymmera, of that he was certain, but how? He hadn’t accessed the gateway. At least he didn’t remember opening it. A vision of her assailed him, beat at him, reminded him that he’d failed.
Oh, man. He was in trouble. He pushed away from the wall.
Images of his target taunted him.
He shoved a chair aside and tore through the pictures scattered across the table in a desperate search for salvation. There. He pulled the shot from the mess but found only condemnation. The long blond hair flowing behind her in the snapshot had not been visible to him, but there was no mistaking the deep blue of her eyes.
The pounding of a fist against the heavy wood door released him from whatever spell she’d cast.
“Jackson.” Another loud thud punctuated his name.
He struggled to get his bearings, tried to slow the racing of his heart. “Yeah, one minute.”
“Now. Your father wants to see you, immediately.”
Kai, his father’s most trusted warrior. He was in more trouble than he’d originally thought. Was it possible the king would sentence him to death for ignoring a direct order? Surely not without offering him a fair trial, or at least granting him the opportunity to explain. But what could he say? What explanation could there be for failing to deliver the girl? None.
“I won’t knock again.” The warrior would soon break down the door and drag him before the throne.
He crumpled the offending photo, the evidence of his disgrace, into a ball. Instead of tossing it in the trash as he’d intended, he shoved it into the small leather satchel he wore at his waist. With a deep breath, he released the latch and pulled open the door.
“Come.” Kai turned his back on him and strode purposefully down the corridor, their footfalls echoing through the silence of accusation.
The thought of escape taunted him, but he would never make it out of the castle. He had only recently completed his warrior training under Kai’s watch and would be no match for the seasoned soldier. Besides, Kai was a stickler for the rules. If he tried to run, the warrior would surely take him down, protégé or not.

About the Author:

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.

Synopsis:Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

Review: 3.5-4 stars - When I first received the request to review
this book, something about it reminded me of Maria V. Snyder’s Study series;
I’ve also seen a few comparisons to Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series.

Having read Threats of Sky and Sea, the
Study series and the first book in the Throne of Glass series I can honestly
say that although there are a few similarities, it definitely holds it’s own in
the fantasy genre.

Breena (Bree) has lived all of her life in
Abeline. Her father owns The Bridge and Duchess Tavern where Bree works as a
barmaid.

One night when collecting firewood in the
forest; Bree happens upon a group of Adept also known as Elementals (Fire,
Water, Air and Earth users). The Adept can control the elements, once trained they
can get them to do anything. The trio led by Lady Katerine know Bree saw what
they were doing in the forest and threaten her to keep secret what she saw.

As the tavern closes for the night, Bree
discovers that she has been living a lie for her entire life. When the Adept
identify her Father as someone who ran away from the King’s army 16 years ago;
a secret her Father has kept. Bree’s life is about to change forever.

Although Bree to her knowledge has never
had any connection with Elementals, the King is sure with a bit of training she
could have powers. Training commences and brings a shock to Bree; something
that she never thought possible has happened. She is adept.

The King wishes to use Bree for his own
gain. Her Father has information the King wants, Bree is his leverage to get
that information. She must decide whether or not she is willing to be a weapon
in his army or risk losing her Father.

Bree is a strong character. Even at her 16
years she is feisty, loyal and ready to deal with whatever is thrown her way.
She is perfect as the lead character in this book.

I will be honest when reading this book I
felt a few parts were a bit slow. I wanted more to happen. When you reach the
end of the book, especially around chapter 37, you realise they were building
to this moment. Up until then the book was hovering between a 3-3.5 stars for
me. Then so near to the end, so much happened; including the reveal of a secret
I hadn’t seen coming.

Another slight downside of this book for me
was that the world building didn’t engage me a hundred percent. Although the
world was discussed, I prefer to be thrown in at the deep end. Surrounded,
sometimes wrapped up in a world, imagining everything from the type of castle
to the smells in the air.

This could however be grown on in Riot of
Storm and Smoke, book 2 in the series, which I eagerly look forward to reading.

I definitely have high hopes for book 2 in
the series. I need to know what becomes of the “awesome foursome” as I lovingly
have nicknamed Breena, Prince Caden, Princess Aleta and Adept Tregle.

I have also noticed on Goodreads that there
is a prequel to this series Sisters of Wind and Flame. I’m off to find that as
soon as I’ve finished writing my review. I’m intrigued to learn more about how
everything began.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis:
Nothing could possibly get worse. Everything and everyone that could be in jeopardy already is, and Jared knows that he is The Society's only hope. If he doesn't find a way to escape he fails everyone including Vera, the bear shifter he can't seem to get out of his head.

Casey and Toby are in love. Head over heels in love, but is their love strong enough to survive a magic so powerful that Casey's mind is no longer in her control?

Vera will do anything to help her sister, and unfortunately that means she is well acquainted with Jared, the most frustrating man she has ever met. Now she has to find a way to fight her annoyance and growing attraction long enough to help save Levi and Allie.

Racing against the clock, all four must face their greatest fears to save The Society and all the people they love.

About the Author:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: How far would you go for a second chance?

Eleven years after flunking out of college, Kate has finally hit rock-bottom. Losing her job and boyfriend in one drunken night, she’s determined to fix her life by going back to the moment when she let partying and sex take over. And do things right this time. At twenty-nine, she heads back to freshman year of college, with a catch.

Pretending she's nineteen with a new roommate and full class schedule is easy. When she meets her shy, sexy and seven-years-younger RA, Carter, following her self-imposed sobriety and celibacy rules is proving to be anything but.

A senior enduring years of regret, Carter is more than ready to graduate. He’s anxious to move on from the party his freshman year where he witnessed his frat brothers about to commit a sexual assault. Instead of doing the right thing and stepping in, he looked the other way and left. His guilt has made for a lonely four years.

When he meets the new freshman on his floor, spunky and confident Kate, he wonders if his time as an outcast has finally come to an end.

Kate and Carter’s growing friendship and undeniable attraction make it harder to hide the demons from their respective pasts. But when their secrets are finally revealed, will their chance at starting over together still be there?

Dream Cast -

Carter: Chris Pratt

Carter is a trust fund baby who went to college thinking nothing could touch him. When he witnesses a sexual assault about to take place at his fraternity his freshman year, instead of doing the right thing and stopping it he leaves. This has left him with a lot of guilt and regret. He’s a senior when Again begins and hasn’t been with a girl since that night as a way of punishing himself. He loves animals and volunteers at the local humane society. It isn’t until he meets Kate that he thinks he might finally be able to let himself be happy again.

Kate: Michelle Williams

Kate has been partying and making destructive life decisions since she flunked out of college eleven years ago. At twenty-nine after being fired and dumped by her boss/married-lover, she decides that the only way to make her life better is to live it over again.

She goes back to freshman year of college and pretends to be nineteen, only this time she vows there will be no drinking and no guys to mess things up. She has a great wit and confidence despite always feeling like she made the wrong decisions.

When she meets Carter, she begins to wonder if someone who seems so good is actually too good to be true.

About the Author:

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University. She is the author of Pretty Amy, The Next Forever, Dear Cassie, Sneaking Candy and The Possibility of Us. As well as a contributor to the essay collection, Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors On Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself. Again is her self-publishing debut. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.

Learn more about RAK

Total Pageviews

Site Stats

Copyright

FTC Disclaimer:

In accordance with FTC Guidelines, I have not received any monetary gain for any information posted within the pages of this website/blog. Any and all information has been provided by the publisher, author and or publicist for free. Content is also based on purchases made by myself or of my guest reviewer(s). Any and all opinions expressed within the pages of this website/blog are solely my own or those of the authors of any and all guest reviewers(s) or guest bloggers.

About Me

Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

I enjoy reading and reviewing a variety of different books within the Young Adult, "New Adult" & Adult genres/categories. If you have any questions or if you are an author or publisher and would be interested in promoting a book, please feel free email. You can find my email under the "mail" button or under the contact link at the top of the page.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Authors, Publishers & Publicists

Have a book you'd like me to review or Promote? How about doing an Author Interview? Or maybe a Guest Post? Great! I'd love to! For more information about having your book reviewed here, please follow this link for more information:

Guest Reviewer Jenny

Click for info & links to her reviews!

My Ratings

When I review I rate from 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the highest rating. I review based on many different things from the writing, to the story - to the characters and how I can relate to them or how they are developed. I also review based on if an author has worked their magic and was able to draw me into a story so deeply that I don't want to put the book down. If you would like me to review a book, please contact me or view my Contact Information and Review Policy for further details.